Beaver control device for use with a culvert pipe

Abstract

A beaver control device for use with a culvert pipe features a tubular frame having opposing longitudinal ends which are open and a plurality of openings spaced angularly about the frame. The openings provide alternative paths, in addition to the open ends of the frame, for water to pass through the device in an event that one of the open ends become obstructed. The device also features a plurality of transverse bars spanning across transversely opposing portions of an inner surface of the frame. The transverse bars are spaced along a longitudinal length of the frame and elevated relative to a bottommost edge of the frame which rests on the ground. The transverse bars are closer to the bottommost edge than to a topmost edge of the frame which is vertically opposite same. Elevating and spacing the transverse bars as described deters the beaver from passing through the device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A beaver control device for use with a culvert pipe comprising:
 a cylindrical frame comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending bars at angularly spaced positions around a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical frame and at least one peripheral bar arrangement interconnecting the longitudinal bars so as to define on the frame a longitudinal length between opposing longitudinal ends thereof, a bottom peripheral portion for resting on the ground, a to peripheral portion which is vertically opposite the bottom peripheral portion, a transverse center plane passing across the frame through the longitudinal axis and an upright center plane passing through the axis joining the bottom peripheral portion and the top peripheral portion; 
 and a plurality of transverse bars generally parallel to the transverse center plane; 
 the plurality of transverse bars being arranged at positions spaced along said longitudinal length of the frame; 
 each of the transverse bars spanning substantially straight across the frame from a position at or adjacent the frame on a first side of the upright center plane to a position at or adjacent the frame on second opposite side of the upright center plane; 
 wherein the plurality of transverse bars are elevated above the bottom peripheral portion of the frame and located at a position below the transverse center plane so that the transverse bars are closer to the bottom peripheral portion than to the top peripheral portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of the transverse bars is elevated relative to the bottom peripheral portion by a clearance distance which is between 1.5″ and 8″. 
     
     
       3. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , wherein each pair of adjacent transverse bars has a spacing distance therebetween which is at least three times greater than a width of each one of the transverse bars. 
     
     
       4. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse bars are spaced along the longitudinal length so that each pair of adjacent transverse bars has a spacing distance therebetween which is between 1.5″ and 7″. 
     
     
       5. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of the transverse bars is coupled at each longitudinal end thereof to respective ones of the longitudinally extending bars. 
     
     
       6. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse bars are aligned so as to lie in a common plane parallel to the transverse center plane. 
     
     
       7. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one peripheral bar arrangement comprises a plurality of rings at spaced positions along the longitudinally extending bars. 
     
     
       8. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of hangers attached to the frame and extending toward the axis for supporting a pipe. 
     
     
       9. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal ends of the frame are open to allow passage into the frame of beaver. 
     
     
       10. The beaver control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse bars extend at right angles to the upright center plane. 
     
     
       11. A beaver control device for use with a culvert pipe comprising:
 a cylindrical frame comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending bars at angularly spaced positions around a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical frame and at least one peripheral bar arrangement interconnecting the longitudinal bars so as to define on the frame a longitudinal length between opposing longitudinal ends thereof, a bottom peripheral portion for resting on the ground, a top peripheral portion which is vertically opposite the bottom peripheral portion, a transverse center plane passing across the frame through the longitudinal axis and an upright center plane passing through the axis joining the bottom peripheral portion and the top peripheral portion; 
 and a plurality of transverse bars generally parallel to the transverse center plane; 
 the plurality of transverse bars being arranged at positions spaced along said longitudinal length of the frame; 
 each of the transverse bars being connected at a first end to a respective first one of the longitudinally extending bars and being connected at a second end to a respective second one of the longitudinally extending bars and spanning substantially straight across the frame from one side of said upright center plane to an opposed side of said upright center plane; 
 wherein the plurality of transverse bars are elevated above the bottom peripheral portion of the frame and located at a position below the transverse center plane so that the transverse bars are closer to the bottom peripheral portion than to the top peripheral portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The beaver control device according to  claim 11 , wherein each one of the transverse bars is elevated relative to the bottom peripheral portion by a clearance distance which is between 1.5″ and 8″. 
     
     
       13. The beaver control device according to  claim 11 , wherein each pair of adjacent transverse bars has a spacing distance therebetween which is at least three times greater than a width of each one of the transverse bars. 
     
     
       14. The beaver control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the transverse bars are spaced along the longitudinal length so that each pair of adjacent transverse bars has a spacing distance therebetween which is between 1.5″ and 7″. 
     
     
       15. The beaver control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the transverse bars are aligned so as to lie in a common plane parallel to the transverse center plane. 
     
     
       16. The beaver control device according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one peripheral bar arrangement comprises a plurality of rings at spaced positions along the longitudinally extending bars. 
     
     
       17. The beaver control device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of hangers attached to the frame and extending toward the axis for supporting a pipe. 
     
     
       18. The beaver control device according to  claim 11 , wherein the transverse bars extend at right angles to the upright center plane.